Yup....you're right. They were not Christian....they were Israelites, descendants of the Northern tribes taken captive 721 B.C. [II Kings 17:23] and also of the Southern tribes taken captive 125 years later [II Kings 25:11].
Josephus tells us during the first century that there were millions of Israelites still beyond the Euphrates, away from Roman control. You'll find that here: "Antiquities, Book XI, Chapter 5, Paragraph 2".
It says this: but then the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that country; wherefore there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers.
The two tribes subject to the Romans were Benjamin and Judah and their ancestors had returned from Babylon after 70 years captivity [Jeremiah 25:11-12]. The Northern Israelites never returned from Assyria and it was these folks "THE TWELVE" had been chosen to evangelize [Matthew 10:5-6]. Peter was among the "Twelve" and as such was instructed not to go among the Gentiles. Paul was later chosen [Acts 9:15] for this task....and he had many assistants.
This is the reason you do not find Peter mentioned as ever being in Rome. This is very difficult for many to accept as it has been Catholic dogma for 1700 years. An entire false Church has been built upon this tradition, but the fact remains.....Paul went to the Gentiles (uncircumcised) and Peter went to the Israelites (circumcised) [Galatians 2:7-9].
[Matthew 15:24] But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Why would Our Lord make that statement?
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Meant to ping you to post #853.